47, Russian politician, became prime minister in May, only to be replaced in August, when Boris Yeltsin fired the entire government. A career law-enforcement officer and zealous crime fighter, Stepashin most recently served as interior minister. As director of the Federal Security Service, the agency that succeeded the KGB, Stepashin spearheaded the disastrous attempt to free hostages taken by a war monger Chechen, Shamil Basae.